Now, he is back in the Bluegrass State, but on a different kind of mission.

Robinson, who grew up on a dairy farm in Farmington, attended Weber State, became a top professional rodeo cowboy and presently lives in Spanish Fork, is part-owner of a 3-year-old thoroughbred named Cowtown Cat.

The winner in four of seven career starts, including the $500,000 Illinois Derby on April 7, Cowtown Cat is one of 20 horses entered to run in today's Kentucky Derby.

"He's a real nice horse," said Robinson, who ought to know, since he's been around them all his life.

On the family farm.

At the rodeo.

On his church mission to Kentucky.

"It's the hub of the horse business," Robinson said. "I guess you could say I was a horse lover in the middle of horse world. It was a perfect fit, especially as I got to know more and more people in the business."

Robinson started in thoroughbred racing by hauling horses for other owners. Eventually, he became partners in the breeding business with Jerry Bailey - no, not the Hall of Fame ex-jockey.

Robinson and Bailey own Gulf Coast Farms, where Cowtown Cat was foaled.

"We sell most of the horses," Robinson said, "but we decided to start racing some of the better ones."

Like Cowtown Cat.

A son of Distorted Humor, who sired 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, Cowtown Cat finished third in the Grade II Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February before winning the $200,000 Gotham Stakes in New York in March.

Off that victory, trainer Todd Pletcher sent Cowtown Cat to Chicago, where the horse went wire-to-wire under 19-year-old jockey Fernando Jara in the Illinois Derby.

"It wasn't by design," Robinson said, referring to Cowtown Cat's front-running win. "He kind of inherited the lead and Jara rode him well. . . . It was kind of a new dimension for him."

Just over a year ago, WinStar Farm owners Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt bought Cowtown Cat from Robinson and Bailey for $1.5 million at a 2-year-old in training sale.

"But we really liked the colt and asked if we could get back in," Robinson said.

Casner and Troutt agreed to sell a half-interest in the horse back to Robinson and Bailey, creating a four-man ownership group that has watched excitedly as Cowtown Cat blossomed into a Kentucky Derby contender.

"He needs to improve to win the Derby," Robinson said. "But we have high hopes for him. . . . If he improves as much as he did between the Gotham and Illinois Derby, he'll have a chance."

Cowtown Cat, who was at 20-1 to win it on Friday, is one of trainer Todd Pletcher's five Derby starters. The others are Scat Daddy, Circular Quay, Any Given Saturday and Sam P.

According to Robinson, Pletcher says Cowtown Cat is "the most improved horse in his barn over the last 60 days."

Cowtown Cat's breeding suggests the 1 1/4 mile distance in the Derby might be too far for him. But Robinson isn't worried.

"He's won both his races around two turns, and by widening margins," he explained. "They weren't catching him; he was leaving them. And Jara said he didn't push the pedal all the way down" in the Illinois Derby.

Cowtown Cat's all-out effort comes today in Kentucky, where missions can change.

Just ask Robinson.

luhm@sltrib.com

133rd Kentucky Derby

SATURDAY, 4:04 p.m., Ch. 5 Churchhill Downs, Louisville, Ky.